Lana Nelson

“Counselor’s Corner” is a regular feature of Northern Light that focuses on common questions raised by counselors seeking to learn more about problem gambling. Lana Nelson, a psychotherapist for CentraCare, addresses this issue’s question.

A. Problem gambling often stems from a complex mix of issues that your client may be experiencing, including interpersonal, intrapersonal and health challenges. The comorbidity rate for some disorders among problem gamblers may be as high as 90 percent.1 Therefore, it’s worth probing your client’s behavior to determine if gambling addiction may be present.

Gambling addiction is referred to as the invisible disease or hidden illness because unlike other diseases or addictions, there are no obvious tell-tale symptoms; there are no physical signs, no needle marks, no evidence from blood or breath tests, and no dilated pupils. Problem gamblers typically deny or minimize the problem. They also go to great lengths to hide their gambling. For example, problem gamblers often withdraw from their loved ones, sneak around, and lie about where they’ve been and what they’ve been up to.

Some of these subtle warning signs are well protected by the gambler. The following are a few red flags2(Cutter & Smith, 2008):

Secrecy over money and finances

New desire to control household finances

There are overdue or unpaid household bills

Unexplained loans or cash advances

Lack of money, despite the same income and expenses

Unusual increase in credit card activity

Stealing or embezzling from work

Bouncing of checks

Refinancing

Missing jewelry, cash or valuables from the home

Borrowing money from friends, co-workers and family members

Dwindling savings or assets

Missing bank or credit card statements

Calls or letters from bill collectors

Unexplained cash

While problem gambling involves a pattern of repeated gambling behavior that disrupts the gambler’s life, pathological gambling, addictive gambling, gambling dependence, disordered gambling or compulsive gambling is a progressive disorder causing a psychologically uncontrollable preoccupation and urge to gamble. Individuals eventually lose the ability to control the impulse to gamble. This results in excessive gambling, which can compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or educational/employment/retirement pursuits. Problem gambling is currently recognized by the American Psychological Association as an addictive disorder.